A 


SERMON, 

DELIVERED   AT 

SHREWSBURY, 

BY  JOSEPH  SUMNER, 

JUNE  23,  1812, 

THE   DAY   WHICH    COriPLKTEB 

jTiftg  gears 

l-ROM   THE   TIME   OE   HIS   INDUCTIOIf   IXTO   THE 

PASTORAL  OFFICE, 

OVER   THE 

Church  and  People  in  that  Place. 


SECOJ^D  EDITION. 


PRINTED  AT  WORCESTER,  BY  WILLIAM  MANNING. 
July,  1819. 


SERMON, 

DELIVERED   AT 

SHREWSBURY, 

BY  JOSEPH  SUMNER, 

JUNE  23,  1812, 

THE   DAY   WHICH   CO:iPLKTEI> 

jTiftg  gears 

l-ROM   THE    TIME    OE   HIS    INDUCTION   I!VTO   THE 

PASTORAL  OFFICE, 

OVER   THE 

Church  and  People  in  that  Place. 


SECOND  EDITION. 


PRINTED  AT  WORCESTER,  BY  WILLIAM  MANNING, 
July,  1819. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


I 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


SERMON. 


PSALM    cxlv.  4. 

^NE  GENERATION    SHALL    PRAISE   THY   WORKS   TO  ANOTHER,    AND  SHALL 
DECLARE  THY  MIGHTY  ACTS. 

1  HE  works  of  God  are  a  glorious  and  con- 
tinued display  of  his  perfections.  Day  unto  day  ut- 
tereth  speech,  and  night  unto  night  shevveth  knowledge 
of  God.  The  works  of  creation  and  providence  loud- 
ly proclaim,  through  all  the  earth,  his  wisdom  and  his 
power.  The  work  of  redemption  more  abundandy 
manifests  his  grace  and  his  mercy.  This  has  employ- 
ed the  thoughts,  the  tongues  and  the  pens  of  patri- 
archs and  prophets-— of  apostles,  and  many  other  de- 
vout men,  in  various  ages  of  the  world.  This  has  been 
the  admiration  and  joy  of  saints  and  of  angels,  and 
will  be  celebrated  in  their  united  songs  through  all  e- 
ternity.  The  works  of  creation,  providence  and  re- 
demption exhibit  the  glories  of  Deity  to  men,  and 
teach  them  their  duty  to  Him.  Hence  the  importance 
of  handing  down,  from  one  generation  to  another,  these 
works  of  God,  that  they  may  excite  our  reverence  and 
fear  of  Him — our  gratitude  and  praise — our  hope  and 
trust.  These  important  purposes  are  directly  promot- 
ed by  sacred,  and  are  aided  by  all  authentick  histor}^ 
Nations  which  are  not  favoured  with  divine  revelation, 
possess  much  knowledge  of  the  works  and  ways  of 


God,  which  Divine  Providence  enables  them  to  trans- 
mit from  one  generation  to  another.  In  every  age 
God  endows  some  with  super-eminent  talents,  to  per- 
form distinguished  services  in  the  world  ;  and  he  rais- 
es up  others  to  be  the  historians  of  their  deeds  :  and 
with  these,  they  also  register  many  of  the  dealings  of 
God  with  the  children  of  men,  for  the  benefit  of  suc- 
ceeding generations. 

The  works  of  God  call  for  the  notice  and  praise  of 
his  rational  offspring,  because  they  tend  to  the  glory  of 
the  Creator,  and  to  the  instruction  of  his  creatures.  It 
is  suitable  at  all  times  to  praise  God  for  his  works,  and 
to  speak  of  him  for  the  improvement  of  the  rising  gen- 
eration ;  but  there  are  certain  periods  in  the  revolutions 
of  years,  when  it  is  proper  to  take  a  retrospection  of 
the  great  events  in  providence,  that  we  may  impress 
our  minds  with  the  recollection  of  those  providential 
dispensations,  w^hich  have  been  conveyed  to  us  by  sa- 
cred and  profane  history,  to  strengthen  our  own  faith 
and  hope  in  God,  and  to  establish  these  in  others.  It 
is  also  our  duty  to  register  and  to  declare  those  works 
of  God,  which  have  been  exhibited  to  our  view,  while 
we  have  been  upon  the  stage  of  action.  In  this  man- 
ner, one  generation  should  praise  God's  w^orks  to  a- 
nother,  and  declare  his  mighty  acts. 

This  day  completes  half  a  century  since  my  induc- 
tion into  the  pastoral  office  over  the  church  and  people 
in  this  place.  This  connexion  must  soon  be  dissolv- 
ed ;  and  I  therefore  desire  to  direct  your  attention, 

I.  To  some  of  the  advantages,  which  result  from 
the  declaration  of  the  works  of  God  by  one  generation 
to  another. 

II.  To  notice  the  principal  events  that  have  taken 
place  among  usp  during  my  ministry,  particularly  those 


which  had  an  immediate  relation  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  town.  I  shall  close  the  discourse  by  a  few  reflec- 
tions, as  the  apphcation  of  our  subject.— Permit  me, 

I.  To  direct  your  attention  to  some  of  the  advan- 
tages which  result  from  the  declaration  of  the  works 
of  God,  by  one  generation  to  another. 

The  communication  of  important  knowledge  from 
one  generation  to  another,  is  one  principal  design  of 
sacred  history,  w^hich  preserves  the  knowledge  of  the 
state  of  innocence,  in  which  God  originally  placed 
man— of  his  fall  from  this  state  ;  and  of  the  provision 
made  for  his  recovery.  We  cannot  but  admire  the 
wisdom,  power  and  goodness  of  the  Creator  in  the 
formation  of  man,  in  whose  composition  earth  and 
heaven  were  united.  A  body  formed  of  earth  and 
wonderfully  constructed,  and  a  spirit  of  understand- 
ing  given  by  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty.  We 
are  justly  astonished,  when  we  contemplate  the  won- 
derful method  devised  and  executed  for  the  recovery 
of  the  race  of  mankind  from  the  state  of  ruin  into 
which,  by  their  transgressions,  thqy  had  plunged  them- 
selves.  The  historical  part  of  scripture,  and  indeed 
the  whole  of  the  sacred  writings,  is  one  continued  his- 
tory of  the  work  of  redemption  by  Jesus  Christ.  The 
knowledge  of  the  interposition  of  God  in  favour  of 
fallen  man  was  at  first  conveyed  by  tradition,  one  gen- 
eration declaring  the  v/orks  of  God  to  another,  for 
which  the  longevity  of  those  early  generations  was 
favourable.  Unity  of  design,  steadiness  of  co-opera- 
tion, and  a  progress  of  discovery  respecting  die  gi-eat 
designs  of  God  towards  man,  were  carried  on  from 
Adam  to  Noah,  from  Noah  to  Abraham,  and  from 
Abraham  to  Moses — one  generation  declaring  the 
works  of  God  to  another.      Moses  compiled  that 


part  of  the  mnst  ancient,  the  most  elegmit,  and  the 
most  instructive  of  all  books,  which  contains  the  his- 
tory  of  the  world  from  the  creation  to  his  own  time. 
After  him,  numbers  were  raised  np  to  continne  the 
histor}'  of  the  dispensations  of  Providence  with  the 
Jews  and  some  neighbouring  nations,  with  which  they 
had  occasional  intercourse,  for  the  space  of  two  thou- 
sand years.  All  these  dispensations  were  intended  to 
prepare  the  world  for  the  appearance  of  the  Messiah, 
concerning  whom  many  predictions  are  interspersed 
In  the  sacred  writings,  and  of  whom  sacred  history 
gives  many  tj'pes,  in  the  characters  of  men  who  were 
distinguished  by  a  greater  measure  of  gifts  and  graces, 
exhibiting  to  the  world  examples  of  human  excellence, 
as  patterns  for  our  imitation.  Hence  we  are  called  to 
notice  the  faith  of  Abraham,  the  innocence  of  Joseph, 
the  meekness  of  Moses,  and  the  patience  of  Job. 

We  also  derive  much  information  respecting  the 
dispensations  of  Divine  Providence  from  authentick 
profane  history  ;  every  page  of  which  tends  to  confirm 
the  sacred  truth,  that  a  wise,  powerful  and  benevolent 
Being  governs  the  universe — who  brings  good  out  of 
evil,  and  order  out  of  confusion.  History  teaches  us, 
that  the  powers  and  efforts  of  men  and  of  nations  are 
often  directed  to  purposes  very  different  from  the 
original  intention  and  design.  The  same  Being  made 
the  greatest  things  and  the  smallest :  all  are  parts  of 
the  same  system ;  and  what  appears  to  us  the  most 
inconsiderable,  answers  a  useful  end — as  our  Saviour 
observes,  not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  without 
the  permission  of  God,  and  the  very  hairs  of  our  heads 
are  numbered.  As  nothing  was  made  in  vain,  so 
liothing  comes  to  pass  without  the  appointment  or  the 
permissipn  of  God :  some  purpose  therefore  is  intend- 


cd  by  every  thing  that  happens,  as  well  as  by  every 
thing  that  is  made.  A  design  may  not  be  so  appar- 
ent in  small  things  as  in  great ;  but  die  hand  of  God 
is  really  in  every  event  which  happens,  and  a  recog- 
nition of  past  events  is  a  source  of  useful  instruction 
and  improvement ;  for  it  will  be  the  means  of  increas- 
ing our  knowledge  of  God  and  of  his  works.  What 
above  all  discovers  the  hand  of  Providence,  as  well 
as  the  weakness  and  short-sightedness  of  maa  is,  that 
great  events  are  often  brought  about  contT'ar}'^  to  the 
intention  of  the  persons  who  were  the  principal  in- 
struments of  them,  and  by  the  very  means  which  were 
designed  to  produce  contrary  effects.  Thus  persecu- 
tion has  always  been  the  means  of  promoting  the  per- 
secuted religion,  insomuch  that  it  has  become  a  com- 
mon proverb — *'  The  blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed 
of  the  church."  On  the  contrary,  the  success  and 
prosperity  of  a  nation  have  often  proved  the  means  of 
their  ultimate  ruin.  In  like  manner,  small  events,  and 
such  as  had  no  apparent  connexion  with  the  effect 
produced,  have  been  over- ruled  to  bring  about  the 
greatest  changes.  Thus  the  desire  of  Henry  VIII.  to 
be  divorced  from  a  wife,  was  the  means  to  produce  the 
reformation  in  England,  for  which  Protestants  to  thijs 
day  rejoice. 

Monuments  erected  in  commemoration  of  great 
events  are  all  fading,  and  mouldering  into  dust.  Mon- 
umental inscriptions,  which  are  intended  to  perpetuaie 
the  names  of  men  who  were  greatly  distinguished,  as 
instruments  in  the  important  events  of  the  world,  ar^ 
also  perishing.  It  is  the  faithful  page  of  history  only 
that  hands  down  to  posterity  the  great  events  of  the 
w^orld,  or  the  men  who  were  conspicuous  actoi-s  in 
them.     Here  the  knowledge  of  them  may  be  acquired^ 


while  the  smallest  vestiges  of  literature  shall  rem^p 
upon  earth. — I  pass, 

2.  To  notice  the  principal  events  that  have  taken 
place  among  us,  during  my  ministry,  particularly 
those  which  had  relation  to  the  inhabitants  of  this 
town. 

The  last  fifty  years,  perhaps,  include  as  many  im- 
portant changes  as  the  same  space  of  time  in  any  pe- 
riod of  the  world.  North- America,  half  a  century 
ago,  was  harmoniously  connected  with  Great-Britain, 
and  the  latter  was  then  closing  a  vigorous  war  with 
France  and  Spain.  In  the  former  part  of  that  war 
we  Avere  unsuccessful ;  but  in  the  latter  part.  Provi- 
dence greatly  smiled  upon  us — the  British  dominions 
were  enlarged  ;  and,  by  the  conquest  of  Canada,  this 
country  was  delivered  from  the  terrour  of  an  inimical 
neighbour.  In  consequence  of  this  great  event,  our 
country  promised  itself  long  peace  and  rest.  The 
most  favourable  opportunity  was  then  offered  to  in- 
crease our  settlements,  extend  our  borders,  and  mul- 
tiply our  resources.  Although  these  then  provinces  of 
the  British  empire  had  no  design  of  becoming  a  sepa- 
rate nation,  yet  Divine  Providence  was  preparing  the 
way  for  this  great  event.  An  extensive  territory  on 
the  north  and  west,  which,  at  the  close  of  the  French 
war,  was  ceded  to  Great-Britain,  with  a  chain  of  for- 
tresses originally  erected  for  our  annoyance,  at  the  ac- 
knowledgement of  our  independence  was  included 
Vv^thin  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  This  territo- 
ry extends  our  national  frontier,  increases  our  conve- 
niences, and  adds  to  our  security. 

A  perfect  calm  in  the  political  world  is  not  long  to 
be  expected.  The  reciprocal  happiness  of  Great- 
Britain  and  the  Colonies  was  too  great  to  be  of  long 


9 

duration.  Soon  after  the  peace  of  1763,  trouble  caitie 
from  an  unexpected  quarter.  Great-Britain  claimed 
a  right  to  tax  the  Colonies  without  their  consent,  "  in 
all  cases  whatever,-'  and  the  claim  gave  general 
alarm.  The  opposition  made  to  the  encroachment 
upon  American  liberty  was  so  far  successful,  as  to 
keep  back  the  dispute  between  the  two  countries  from 
coming  to  the  last  extremity  for  about  ten  years  ;  m 
which  time  we  were  rising  in  strength  for  an  appeal  to 
the  Arbiter  of  the  Universe,  by  the  sword.  A  long 
and  distressing  war  ensued,  which  cost  the  lives  of 
many  worthy  citizens.  Some  of  us  still  remember 
the  gall  and  wormwood  of  those  years,  during  which 
scarcely  a  family  escaped  die  bitterness  of  having  some 
friend  slain  ii^  battle,  or  perishing  in  captivity.  When 
we  look  back  upon  those  scenes,  in  which  we  were  ei- 
ther actors  or  spectators,  we  cannot  but  wonder,  that 
the  infant  Colonies,  so  unprepared  as  they  were  for 
war,  should  dare  to  engage  with  one  of  the  most  pow- 
erful kingdoms  of  the  earth ;  and  at  an  early  period 
of  the  contest  to  assume  a  name  and  a  place  among 
free  and  independent  nations.  But  the  Divine  coun- 
sels must  and  will  stand.  That  was  the  time  appoint- 
ed by  Heaven  for  a  nation  to  be  born  in  a  day  ;  and 
circumstances  were  made  to  concur  for  its  accom- 
plishment. The  situation  of  this  country,  from  its 
first  settlement  by  Europeans,  has  been  very  different 
from  that  of  most  others.  In  them.,  territory  has  been 
obtained  by  conquest,  and  government  established  by 
the  sword.  In  this,  the  soil  was  purchased  of  the 
original  inhabitants,  and  cultivated  by  the  owners, 
who,  when  they  could  no  longer  be  governed  under 
the  British  crown,  agreeably  to  their  native  privileges, 
framed  a  government  for  themselves,  and  establishexl 
2 


10 

it  by  mutual  consent ;  in  all  the  concerns  of  which 
Heaven  favoured  them,  and  tinder  which  they,  for  a 
time,  greatly  prospered. 

Haifa  century  ago,  the  number  of  inhaijitants  in  the 
district  of  country  which  now  composes  the  United 
States,  was  small  in  comparison  with  our  present  num- 
bers. The  increase  of  husbandry,  navigation  and 
commerce,  has  been  in  full  proportion  to  the  popula- 
tion ;  and  all  these,  since  the  revolution,  have  increas- 
ed beyond  example.  At  the  close  of  the  revolutiona- 
ry war,  the  navigation  of  this  country  was  next  to 
nothing ;  but,  within  twelve  years,  the  American  flag 
was  displayed  in  the  ports  of  almost  every  commer- 
cial state  and  kingdom  upon  the  globe ;  and,  had  not 
the  spirit  of  enterprize  been  checked  by  commercial 
embarrassments,  w^e  cannot  calculate  the  degree  of 
wealth  and  respectability  to  which  these  United  States 
would  have  arisen  by  this  time.  New  settlements 
have  been  greatly  extended,  and  four  or  five  new 
states  have  been  added  to  the  original  thirteen.  Set- 
tlements have  been  made,  churches  formed,  acade- 
mies and  colleges  founded  and  put  into  a  flourishing 
condition,  where,  less  than  fifty  years  ago,  it  was  a 
howling  wilderness.  The  wilderness  has  become  a 
fruitful  field,  and  the  desert  made  to  blossom  like  the 
rose.  "  Thus  the  period  has  been  replete  with  events 
in  our  own  country,  wliich  have  astonished  the  care- 
ful and  wise  observers  of  Divine  Providence  in  hu- 
man alTairs,"  which  the  historick  page  will  declare  to 
posterity ;  and  in  which  future  generations  may  trace 
the  agency  of  the  Almighty  in  the  support  of  his 
church  in  the  world. 

From  America  the  spirit  of  liberty  was  carried  into 
France  ;  but  it  could  not  there  flourish.     That  nation 


11 

was  not  prepared  to  entertain  it.  Upon  throwing  off 
monarchy,  they  fell  into  anarchy,  and  have  been  con- 
strained at  last  to  submit  to  a  military  despotism.  In- 
stead of  amelioratiiig  their  condition,  they  have  ren- 
dered it  seven-fold  worse  than  it  was  before.  This 
might  have  been  expected  ;  for,  under  the  influence 
of  atheistick  philosophy,  they  destroyed  the  constitu- 
tions of  their  religion,  trampled  upon  the  temples  and 
the  worship  of  their  God ;  and  they  declared  death  to 
be  an  eternal  sleep.  An  aspiring  chieftain  seized  the 
favourable  moment  to  usurp  dominion  ;  and  he  has 
established  an  absolute  despotism  over  the  nation. 
Not  satisfied  with  the  sceptre  of  France,  he  has  spread 
desolation  among  the  nations  of  continental  Europe ; 
and  by  intrigue  and  the  sword  has  subjected  many  of 
them  to  a  state  of  abject  slavery.  How  far  he  may  be 
permitted  to  go,  and  how  long  he  may  be  permitted  to 
be  a  scourge  to  the  earth,  God  only  knows. 

But  the  compass  of  one  discourse  will  not  permit 
me  to  v/ander  among  the  nations  to  declare  the  works, 
of  God.  These  all  in  a  wonderful  manner  display  his 
power,  wisdom  and  goodness.  In  every  country  there 
have  been  distinguished  characters  raised  up,  who 
have  proved  great  blessings  or  great  curses  to  the  na- 
tions which  gave  them  birth.  They  who  have  been 
great  and  extensive  blessings  in  their  day  ought  to  be 
remembered  with  respect.  Many  such,  whose  names 
are  enrolled  in  the  records  of  this  country,  were 
brought  upon  the  stage  of  publick  life  during  the  last 
half  century,  and  took  their  several  parts  in  our  rev- 
olution; most  of  whom  have  done  their  work,  and 
have  passed  off.  There  have  been  many  in  the  pri- 
vate walks  of  life,  whose  memory  may  be  as  precious 
to  us  as  that  of  those  who  moved  in  a  publick  sphere. 


1^ 

whose  example  may  be  as  worthy  of  imitation,  and 
the  copy  more  extensively  useful.  The  general  on  the 
field  of  battle,  and  the  statesman  in  the  cabinet,  may 
exhibit  something  worthy  the  notice  and  imitation  of 
those  who  may  act  in  a  like  capacity ;  but  to  the  general- 
ity of  mankind  it  is  a  copy  they  do  not  aspire  to  write  af- 
ter. It  is  the  industrious,  prudent  man,  in  private  life, 
who  sustains  the  character  of  an  aifectionate  husband, 
a  tender  parent,  a  kind  neighbour,  a  good  member  of 
society,  and,  which  crowns  all,  of  a  good  Christian, 
who  sets  an  example  for  general  imitation  ;  and  this 
copy  may  be  useful  for  mankind  at  large.  In  many 
respects  the  state  of  society,  within  the  last  fifty  years, 
has  been  improved.  Civilization  has  been  extended, 
and  knowledge  increased.  The  slave-trade  has  been 
discountenanced  within  the  United  States,  and  in  the 
northern  states  slavery  is  wholly  laid  aside ;  and  we 
are  told  that  the  condition  of  slaves  in  the  southern 
states,  as  well  as  in  some  other  parts  of  the  world,  is 
made  better.  They  are  not  only  provided  with  more 
comfortable  food,  but  a  degree  of  attention  is  paid  to 
their  religious  instruction,  and  some  of  them  are 
christianized.  These  circumstances  give  us  reason 
to  hope  that  the  time  is  approaching,  when  all  God's 
rational  offspring  will  enjoy  civil  and  moral  freedom. 
During  the  period  within  our  review,  invention  has 
been  upon  the  stretch  in  this  country.  Many  useful 
discoveries  have  been  made  in  the  mechanical  arts,  by 
which  much  labour  is  saved,  and  greater  dispatch 
made.  Another  occurrence,  which  strongly  charac- 
terizes this  period,  and  exhibits  a  still  more  favourable 
appearance  respecting  mankind,  and  the  church  of 
God  is,  the  charitable  exertions  that  are  making  to 
spread  the  gospel  in  our  infant  plantations,  and  among 


13 

the  heathen.  For  these  apostoUck  and  glorious  pur- 
poses numerous  societies  have  been  formed ;  and  they 
give  great  encouragement  to  all  who  have  any  interest 
at  the  throne  of  grace,  to  pray  for  the  bringing  in  of 
the  Jews,  with  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles,  that  wheu 
the  people  of  God  take  pleasure  in  the  stones,  and  fa- 
vour the  dust  of  ^ion,  that  He  w^ould  arise  and  build 
her  up. 

But  as  smaller  events  become  important  to  those, 
who,  by  their  local  situation,  have  an  immediate  inter- 
est in  them,  I  would  notice  some  things  respecting  the 
church  and  flock  of  God  in  this  place,  and  more  par- 
ticularly those  which  have  taken  place  within  the  last 
fifty  years.  Some  of  these  may  be  worthy  of  atten- 
tion, as  they  may  excite  your  gratitude  to  Heaven 
for  the  smiles  of  Divine  Providence  upon  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  town  from  generation  to  generation.  We 
have  it  from  good  authority,  that  the  land  which  origi- 
nally composed  the  town  of  Shrewsbury,  was  passed 
over  by  the  proprietors  of  the  adjacent  towns,  because 
they  thought  it  not  worthy  of  being  taken  into  their 
grants.  Hence  the  form  of  it  was  irregular.  But  a 
governing  Providence  had  not  destined  this  tract  to 
remain  a  waste.  In  process  of  time  it  was  to  become 
a  fruitful  field.  In  1717,  it  was  granted  to  a  body  of 
men,  who  were  not  only  enterprizing  and  industrious, 
but  also  religiously  disposed.  They  considered  pub- 
lick  worship  andthepublick  institutions  of  religion  to  be 
of  the  first  importance,  in  their  tendency  to  promote  the 
highest  interests  of  society,  and  to  prepare  men  indi- 
vidually for  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  About  the  year 
1721,  the  first  meeting-house  in  this  place  was  built 
by  the  proprietors.  On  the  fourth  of  December,  1723, 
the  church  was  gathered  under  the  inspection  of  an 


14 

Ecclesiastical  Council,  which  was  convened  for  the 
purpose  of  ordaining  the  first  minister  of  the  town,  the 
Rev.  Job  Gushing,  who  was  called  and  settled  by  the 
proprietors ;  and  who  was  distinguished  for  his  pru- 
dence  and  general  exemplary  deportment.  He  died, 
suddenly,  August  6,  1760. 

The  land  in  the  grant  which  composed  Shrewsbury 
was  originally  rough,  and  it  had  been  greatly  impover- 
ished by  frequent  burnings  by  the  proprietors  of 
neighbouring  settlements.  Much  hard  labour  was 
necessary  to  bring  it  into  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  the 
progress  of  its  settlement  was  consequently  slow ;  but, 
from  personal  acquaintance  with  some  of  the  first  set- 
tlers, and  from  correct  information  respecting  others, 
1  am  authorized  to  say,  that  they  were  remarkable  for 
their  industry,  frugality  and  temperance.  It  seems 
that  they  attended  unto  and  embraced  the  doctrine  in- 
culcated in  the  first  sermon  that  was  preached  in  the 
plantation.  It  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Breck, 
of  Marlborough,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1720,  from  the 
following  words,  viz.—"  Righteousness  exalteth  a  na- 
tion, but  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  people."  It  appears 
that  they  adopted  the  resolution  of  Joshua,  that,  as  for 
themselves  and  their  households,  they  would  serve  the 
Lord.  The  church  when  formed  consisted  of  sixteen 
male  members ;  and  about  an  equal  number  of  female 
members  was  soon  after  admitted  into  the  church, 
most  of  them  the  partners  of  those  who  were  first  em- 
bodied. It  appears  from  the  church  records,  that 
within  four  years  from  the  time  the  church  was  gath- 
ered, the  heads  of  families,  almost  without  exception, 
became  members  of  it.  The  church  remained  in  per- 
fect harmony  and  peace  for  eight  years,  when  some 
dispute  arose  respecting  discipline,  and  particularly  on 


15? 

the  question,  whether  Ruling  Elders  be  a  distinct  ofRce 
appointed  by  apostolick  authority  ?  This  controversy 
continued  about  ten  years,  when  a  small  number  with- 
drew from  the  church  ;  but  they  afterward  returned, 
and  remained  regular  members  until  the  time  of  their 
death.  This  was  the  only  controversy,  as  far  as  I  can 
learn,  which  has  ever  arisen  in  this  church.  After  the 
death  of  their  first  pastor,  and  before  the  ordination  of 
the  second,  the  church  renewed  their  Christian  obli- 
gations ;  and  at  that  time  they  added  one  article  to 
their  covenant.  This,  after  some  years'  experience, 
was  found  to  be  the  ground  of  uneasiness  to  some 
members,  and  an  objec^'on,  in  the  minds  of  numbers^ 
against  seeking  admission  into  the  church.  The  ar- 
ticle was  in  consequence  rescinded  by  an  unanimous 
vote.  During  the  fifty  years  of  my  ministry,  the 
church  has  scarcely  in  any  instance  met,  but  for  the 
management  of  its  prudential  concerns ;  aiid  I  have 
scarcely  known  a  vote  passed  which  was  not  unani- 
mous. 

In  December,  1742,  the  north  part  of  Shrewsbury 
was  incorporated  into  a  parish  ;  and  in  the  next  year, 
fourteen  male  members  of  this  church  and  sixteen  fe- 
male v/ere  dismissed  and  recommended  by  this  church : 
these,  with  some  others,  were  formed  into  a  church 
state,  on  the  6th  of  October,  1743,  when  the  first  min- 
ister was  ordained  over  the  church  and  people  of  th.at 
parish.  In  March,  1786,  this  parish  was  incorporated 
into  a  town,  by  the  name  of  Boylston ;  and  in  Sep- 
tember, 1796,  a  second  church  was  formed  in  that 
town,  by  a  number  of  members  from  the  fa\st  church, 
together  witii  some  members  from  the  churches  in 
Holdcn  and  Sterling  ;  and  this  ntw  society  has  sinc(r 
been  insorporated  into  a  town,  by  the  name  of  \\\'s^^ 


16 

Boylston.    Three  houses  for  publick  worship  are  now 
standing  on  the  original  grant  of  Shrewsbury- 

This  church,  when  it  renewed  its  covenant  in  the 
year  1761,  consisted  of  twenty-eight  male  members ; 
the  number  of  female  cannot  be  ascertained  :  but  the 
communicants  were  more  numerous  than  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church.  Many  who  moved  into  town  did 
not  remove  their  relations  from  the  churches  which 
they  originally  joined,  and  become  acting  members  of 
this  body.  This  church,  from  the  first,  has  manifest- 
ed a  candid  spirit  towards  other  denominations  of 
Christians.  They  have  never  refused  communion  to 
Christian  professors,  whose  lives  and  conversation,  in 
the  judgment  of  charity,  supported  their  profession. 
Although  emigration  of  church  memJDers,  as  well  as 
of  other  inhabitants  of  the  towii,  has  been  very  con- 
siderable, yet  the  church  has  been  gradually  increasing 
in  numbers.  There  have  been  ten  officiating  deacons 
in  this  church,  since  its  formation.  The  two  who 
•^vere  in  office,  when  the  second  church  was  formed^ 
fell  within  the  limits  of  that  society.  There  is  but 
one  individual  now  living  in  town,  who  was  a  member 
of  this  church  at  the  time  of  my  ordination  ;  this  is  a 
female  :  and  there  are,  I  believe,  but  three  persons 
novv^  alive  who  were  then  members.  Two  hundred 
and  sixty-seven  have  been  admitted  to  full  commu- 
nion during  my  ministry,  and  about  one  thousand  one 
hundred  and  twenty  have  been  baptized.  The  births 
within  this  peiiod  were  between  thirteen  and  fourteen 
hundred.  The  number  of  marriages  I  cannot  precise- 
ly ascertain.  I  have  solemnized  the  marriage  of  four 
hundred  and  ten  couple,  the  greater  part  of  whom  em- 
igrated. The  deaths  have  been  about  six  hundred 
and  fifty — between  twelve  and  thirteen  in  a  year.    For 


17 

some  of  the  first  years  of  my  ministry,  I  cannot  be 
answerable  for  the  correctness  of  my  bill  of  mortality. 
The  average  number  of  deaths  in  the  year,  since  that 
time,  has  been  a  little  more  than  one  to  an  hundred  of 
the  inhabitants.  According  to  the  census  in  1790, 
the  population  of  the  town  then  was  nine  hundred  and 
sixty- three  souls  ;  in  1800,  one  thousand  and  forty- 
three  ;  and  in  1810,  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
ten.  Thus  hath  God  increased  our  numbers.  Did 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  attend  publick  worship  as 
universally  at  the  present  day  as  they  did  fifty  years  a- 
go,  this  house  w  ould  scarcely  contain  our  assembly. 

From  the  first  settlement  of  the  place,  our  people 
have  been  laudably  disposed  to  make  suitable  provis- 
ion for  the  education  of  the  rising  generation.  Not  a 
few  have  felt  themselves  able  and  willing  to  give  some 
of  their  children  more  than  a  common  school  educa- 
tion ;  by  which  they  have  been  qualified  to  become 
instructers  in  schools,  and  to  serve  their  generation  in 
various  other  useful  departments.  Twenty  of  our 
youth  have  received  a  collegiate  education  within  the 
last  fifty  years,  and  three  at  an  earlier  period,  many  of 
whom  became  respectable  ministers  of  the  gospel ;  and 
others  of  them  have  been  distinguished  in  important 
offices  of  the  government.* 

*  The  Hon.  Artemas  Ward,  Esq.  was  born  in  Shrewsbury,  November, 
1727,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1748.  Soon  after,  he  received  the 
commission  of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  a  field-officer  in  the  French 
war,  in  1758,  and  in  1762  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  this  county,  and  in  1775,  was  constituted  Chief  Justice  of  this 
court ;  and  for  a  time  he  filled  the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  coun- 
ty. For  many  years  he  was  the  Representative  of  this  town  in  the  Gene- 
ral Court :  he  was  chosen  the  Speaker  of  that  honourable  body,  and  he  for 
several  years  filled  a  seat  at  the  Council  Board.  When  hostilities  between 
Great-Britain  and  America  were  expected,  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Mas- 
sachusetts appointed  him  to  command  the  forces  of  the  Province  ;  and  at 
the  commencement  of  the  war,  in  1775,  he  commanded  the  American  ar- 
my, near  Boston,  from  April  to  July,  when  he  was  superseded  in  this  ardu- 
ous duty  by  General  Washington.     Under  Cong;re'j»  he  was  appointed  the 

3 


18 

Few  towns  have  been  favoured  with  more  general 
health  than  this  for  the  last  half  century.  The  greatest 
number  of  deaths  which  has  happened  in  any  one  year, 
took  place  in  1770.  The  canker-rash  or  throat-dis- 
temper then  prevailed,  and  twenty- seven  persons  died 
by  it.  Two  families  lost  four  in  each.  In  1775,  the 
dysentery  was  brought  into  this  place  from  the  camp, 
and  proved  fatal  to  numbers  ;  others  of  our  inhabitants 
died  of  various  disorders,  and  the  whole  number  of 
deaths  in  that  year  was  nineteen.  These  two  were  the 
years  of  our  greatest  mortality.  A  large  proportion  of 
our  people  have  attained  to  a  good  old  age,  and  some 
to  a  degree  of  longevity  which,  in  modern  times,  is 
rarely  the  lot  of  humanit}^  Johi/  Keyes,  Esq.  died 
March  3,  1768,  at  the  age  of  ninety-four  :  he  left  a 
Avidow,  who  lived  to  be  ninety-six  years  old,  and  they 
lived  together  in  the  married  state  seventy- two  years. 
In  1790,  one  in  fifty  of  our  inhabitants  had  passed 
eighty  years  of  age.  Of  these,  one  died  in  her  hun- 
dred and  fifth  year,*  and  another  lived  to  be  an  hun- 
dred and  five  years  and  two  months  old.f  They  who 
live  the  longest,  find  an  appointed  time  beyond  which 
they  cannot  pass.  One  generation  passeth  away,  and 
another  cometh.  Every  year  makes  changes  in  fami- 
lies, in  churches,  and  in  towns. 

It  is  computed,  that  in  this  country,  which  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  healthy  in  the  world,  one  half 
of  the  human  race  die  under  twenty  years  of  age.  It 
is  supposed,  that  in  twenty-seven  years  as  many  die 

second  in  rommand  in  the  continental  army,  which  commission  he  resig-ned 
soon  after  the  British  troops  evacuated  Boston.  Under  the  old  Confedera- 
tion, he  was  chosen  a  Member  of  Congress,  and  was  repeatedly  elected  si 
Member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  Congress,  after  the  estaMish- 
ment  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  He  continued  in  publick  life  until  bodi= 
ly  infirmity  obliged  him  to  retire.     He  died  October  27,  1800, 

*  Widow  Mart  Jones,  t  Widow  Ruth  Garfielb. 


19 

as  are  living  at  any  given  period  of  time.  The  whole 
population  of  the  earth  has  been  estimated,  by  some,  at 
one  thousand  million.  From  these  principles  we  may 
calculate,  that  about  thirty-seven  million  persons  die  an- 
nually on  our  globe — seven  hundred  and  twelve  thou- 
sand every  week — one  hundred  and  one  thousand  sev- 
en hundred  and  fifty  daily — four  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-nine  every  hour — and  about  seventy 
every  minute.  This  number  of  human  beings  is  com- 
ing into  and  passing  out  of  the  world  without  inter- 
mission. "  What  an  astonishing  current  of  souls  is 
rapidly  borne  on  the  tide  of  time,  incessandy  shooting 
into  the  ocean  of  eternity,  and  appearing  before  God 
in  judgment  !"^  According  to  this  calculation,  the 
earth  changes  its  inhabitants  twice  in  a  little  more  than 
half  a  century.  When  we  compare  our  bill  of  mortal- 
ity with  the  above  estimation  of  the  mortality  of  the 
world,  it  will  appear  very  small ;  and  we  shall  per- 
ceive our  obligations  to  bless  and  to  praise  God  for 
his  goodness  manifested  towards  us. 

In  this  climate,  healthy  as  it  is,  half  a  century  makes 
great  changes  in  the  inhabitants  of  our  land.  It  has 
changed  all  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  this  extensive 
county ;  and  very  few  remain  in  the  Commonwealth  who 
were  in  the  ministry  at  the  time  of  my  induction  into  of- 
fice. Thirty  years  have  swept  av/ay  almost  all  the  lead- 
ing characters  in  the  revolution.  Rulers  and  ruled,  min- 
isters and  those  to  whom  they  ministered,  are  gone 
upon  the  current  of  time.  If  we  look  into  families,  we 
find  very  few  instances  where  both  the  heads  continue 
for  fifty  years.  There  are  but  two  such  families  now  in 
this  town,  which  were  here  when  I  was  ordained ;  and 
there  are  very  few  instances  where  either  of  those,  who 
v/ere  then  heads  of  families,  remain  unto  this  day. 

*Ilev.  Dr.  Trumbull, 


20 


APPLICATION. 

The  cursory  review  we  have  taken  of  the  events  of 
the  last  half  century,  naturally  leads  us  to   serious  re- 
flections.    This  period  of  time  has  been  important — 
not  because  I,  an  unworthy  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 
have  been  continued  among  you  ;  but  because  it  has 
been  filled  up  with  important  publick  events,  and 
with  concerns  of  great  personal  interest  to  you,  indi- 
vidually, or  in  your  connexion  with  domestick  life. 
Almost  every  one  of  you  can  recollect,   that   within 
this  period,  a  parent,  a  partner  or  a  child  has   died. 
Not  one  of  those  years  perhaps  passed  without  events 
highly  important  to  some  of  us.     Few  of  us,  who 
have  not  been  called  within  these  years,  at  different 
times,  to  take  the  place  of  mourners,   and  to  follow 
divers  of  our  friends  to  the  silent  mansion.     Lovers 
and  friends  have  been  taken  from  us,  and  put  far  into 
darkness.     We  lamented  their  deaths.     The  worm- 
wood and  the  gall,  our  souls  have  still  in  remembrance. 
It  is  highly  important  that  we  inquire  what  effect  those 
things  have  had  upon  us ;  whether  they  have  av/aken- 
ed  in  us  a  carefulness  to  prepare  for  our  own  great  and 
last  change. 

When  we  look  forward  fifty  years,  they  appear  very 
long  ;  but  when  we  look  back  fifty,  they  appear  very 
short.  I  cannot  realize  that  so  many  years  have  roiled 
away  since  the  day,  when,  with  fear  and  trembling,  I 
took  the  oversight  of  this  flock,  then  solemnly  commit- 
ted to  my  charge.  It  had  been  my  intention  not  to  en- 
ter into  the  ministry  at  so  early  a  period  ;  but  it  ap- 
peared to  others,  as  well  as  to  myself,  to  be  the  will  of 
Providence  that  I  should.  I  could  not  doubt  the  sin- 
cere aftection  of  those  who  invited  and  solicited  me  to 


21 

take  the  charge  and  oversight  of  them  in  the  Lord. 
I  have  reason  gratefully  to  recognize  their  candour  and 
kindness  to  me  during  my  more  youthful  years,  and 
even  as  long  as  they  were  continued  with  us.  But  they 
are  numbered  with  the  congregation  of  the  dead.  Like 
candour  and  kindness  I  have  reason  to  acknowledge 
in  the  present  generation.  I  am  sensible,  that  in  such 
a  long  course  of  ministrations,  the  manner  and  method 
of  a  preacher  usually  become  obsolete ;  and,  I  trust,  that 
while  any  traces  of  reason  remain  with  me,  I  shall  not 
forget  the  kind  reception  I  have  met  with  from  the 
body  of  this  people.  The  unhappy  habit,  which  some 
of  this  society  have  formed,  of  neglecting  the  publick 
institutions  of  reHgion,  has  been  the  greatest  discour- 
agement which  I  have  experienced  since  my  settle- 
ment. This  has  caused  me  to  entertain  serious  thoughts 
of  discontinuing  my  pastoral  relation  to  this  church  and 
people,  in  the  hope  that  a  new  preacher  would  engage 
the  attention  of  those  who  habitually  absent  themselves 
from  publick  worship,  and  bring  them  off  from  their 
dangerous  neglect.  But  this,  when  I  have  mentioned 
the  thought,  has  been  universally  condemned  by  those 
in  whose  wisdom  and  friendship  I  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  confide.  But  my  course  is  almost  finished  : 
according  to  the  order  of  nature,  my  work  is  almost 
done.  I  have  been  with  your  predecessors,  and  with 
most  of  you,  in  seasons  of  trial  and  affliction.  I  have 
endeavoured  to  minister  unto  you  according  to  mv  fee- 
ble ability,  in  private  as  well  as  in  publick,  agreeablv 
to  the  revealed  will  of  God.  This  I  have  taken  for  my 
guide,  v/ithout  enlisting  myself  under  any  dividing  hu- 
man name.  It  has  been  my  endeavour  to  preach  Christ 
and  Him  crucified,  and  to  inculcate  the  important  du- 
ties of  the  Christian  character.    With  what  success  and 


22 

profit  I  have  ministered,  will  more  fully  appear  on  an^ 
other  day ;  and,  where  no  advantage  has  been  derived 
from  the  means  of  grace  in  this  place,  it  will  then  also 
appear  who  was  the  blameable  cause.  All  I  have  to 
say  is,  that,  as  far  as  I  know  myself,  I  have  endeavour- 
ed to  fulfil  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  ;  and  Providence  has  favoured  me  with 
such  general  health,  that  I  have  rarely  failed  in  stand- 
ing in  my  lot  in  publick,  or  of  obeying  more  private 
calls  to  ministerial  duty.  If  life,  health  and  any  tolera- 
ble degree  of  mental  strength  should  be  continued  un- 
to me  a  little  longer,  I  shall  be  willing  to  spend  these 
in  your  service.  But  I  find  the  infirmities  of  age  in- 
creasing upon  me,  especially  mental  infirmities  :  these 
may  perhaps  increase  so  fast,  that  I  may  not  be  sensi- 
ble of  my  own  decays  :  in  that  case,  you  will  kindly 
prevent  my  attempting  to  mmister  unto  you. 

According  to  the  course  of  nature,  you  must  ere 
long  be  destitute  of  a  minister  ;  you  will  not  therefore 
think  it  assuming,  if  I  give  you  a  word  of  advice  re- 
specting the  re-settlement  of  a  Christian  pastor.  You 
will  not,  I  presume,  be  willing  to  live  w^ithout  the  pub- 
lick  ministrations  of  the  gospel.  As  you  have  a  fund 
for  the  support  of  a  Congregational  minister,  which  can- 
not be  alienated  to  any  secular  purpose,  nor  converted 
to  the  support  of  a  minister  of  any  other  denomination 
of  Christians,  there  can,  I  trust,  be  no  doubt  that  on 
my  decease,  the  pastoral  office  in  this  church  will  soon 
be  re- filled.  Still  I  feel  anxiety  lest  divisions  should 
arise  among  you.  There  are  at  this  day  dividing 
names,  among  which  many  preachers  enlist  :  I  there- 
fore take  the  liberty  to  recommend  the  following  things 
unto  you.  Let  your  waiting  eyes  be  unto  God,  not 
only  in  secret  and  in  private,  but  also  in  publick^  with 


23 

humiliation  and  fasting.  Take  advice,  especially  of 
the  neighbouring  ministers,  who,  it  may  well  be  suppo-^ 
sed,  have  more  acquaintance  with  candidates  than  you 
can  possess — then  hear  and  judge  for  yourselves.  Be- 
ware of  such  preachers  as  place  the  essence  of  relig- 
ion in  external  modes  and  forms,  in  dividing  names, 
or  in  speculative  matters,  in  themselves  doubtful,  and 
which  would  be  useless  if  their  truth  could  be  made 
certain.  They,  who  enrol  themselves  as  the  disci- 
ples of  this  or  that  distinguished  man  in  the  Christian 
world,  feel  that  they  are  pledged  to  support  his  peculiar 
system ;  and  they  call  into  exercise  all  their  metaphysic- 
al powers,  to  persuade  the  less  informed  that  they  see 
further  into  hidden  things  than  their  fcUow-men. 

There  is,  I  conceive,  more  danger  of  deception  from 
these  metaphysicians  than  from  those  who  make  the 
essence  of  religion  to  consist  in  external  rites,  or  in  a 
mode  of  administering  them  ;  because  the  latter  at 
first  view,  apj)car  so  absurd,  and  savour  so  much  of  a 
Pharisaical  spirit,  diat  none  but  the  most  uninformed 
can  be  deluded  by  them.  The  Congregational  socie- 
ty in  this  town,  in  their  fund,  possess  the  best  barrier 
against  sectarianism  and  fanaticism.  Professions  are 
cheap  things,  and  many  are  willing  to  offer  that  which 
costs  them  nothing.  I  urge  upon  you  diligently  to 
search  the  scriptures,  and  to  try  every  man's  doctrine 
by  this  standard.  Place  not  your  dependence  upon  the 
creeds  and  confessions  of  men,  nor  upon  any  human 
composition.  If  any  man  preach  any  other  gospel 
than  that  which  you  find  in  the  scriptures,  believe  him 
not.  If  the  scriptures  be  not  a  sufficient  rule  of  faith 
and  practice,  we  cannot  expect  to  find  this  rule  among 
human  forms.  It  will  be  a  misapplication  of  the  a- 
vails  of  your  funds,  to  apply  them  for  such  speculative 


S4 

preaching,  as  tends  neither  to  enlighten  the  mind  nor 
to  regulate  the  practice.  But,  as  none  but  professed 
Congregationalists  will  have  a  right  to  a  voice  in  the 
choice  of  a  minister  here,  I  trust  you  will  harmonize 
upon  this  important  subject.  Having  witnessed  in 
many  places  the  unhappy  consequences  which  result 
from  pushing  the  settlement  of  a  minister,  in  opposi- 
tion to  a  respectable  minority,  I  cannot  but  caution 
you  against  this  errour.  The  spirit  of  party  is  hereby 
excited,  and  an  alienation  of  brethren  ensues,  which 
requires  a  long  time  to  remedy.  In  case  of  great  divis- 
ion, permit  the  individual  who  is  the  object  of  it,  qui- 
etly to  depart,  and  invite  a  new  candidate,  looking  to 
God  to  unite  you  in  his  own  time  and  way.  Be  not 
too  hasty  in  forming  an  opinion  of  your  candidate,  but 
take  time  to  satisfy  yourselves  respecting  his  doctrine^ 
his  morals^  and  his  prudence.  Some  appear  better  up- 
oii  a  slight  acquaintance  than  they  do  when  fully 
known.  It  is  the  complaint  of  some  societies,  that 
their  ministers  preach  a  different  doctrine  after  their 
ordination  from  that  which  they  preached  while  can- 
didates. You  will  therefore  consider  the  importance 
of  as  full  an  investigation  as  in  your  power  of  the  in- 
tegrity, the  knowledge,  in  a  word,  of  the  various  qual- 
ifications for  a  minister,  possessed  by  your  candidate, 
before  you  proceed  to  settle  him. 

The  review  of  the  last  half  century  naturally  leads  us 
to  inquire,  what  probably  will  be  our  situation  before 
the  next  fifty  years  shall  complete  their  revolutions. 
\Vhat  intervening  changes  may  take  place  with  us,  or 
any  of  ours,  we  cannot  tell :  what  sufferings  are  allot- 
ted us — what  conflicts  we  may  be  called  to  sustain, 
God  only  knows  ;  but  this  one  thing  we  know,  the 
greater  part  of  us,  who  are  now  in  the  house  of  God, 


2S 

will  be  in  an  eternity  of  happiness  or  misery  before  the 
expiration  of  half  a  century.  It  concerns  us  all  to  re- 
flect, for  which  of  these  states  we  are  prepared — wheth- 
er we  are  vessels  of  mercy  preparing  for  glory,  or  ves- 
sels of  wrath  fitting  for  destruction. 

What  changes  those  of  this  audience  will  witness, 
who  shall  live  fifty  years  from  this  time,  is  beyond  hu- 
man foresight.  Whether  the  Federal  union  of  these 
States  will  last  half  this  time,  is,  from  present  appear- 
ances, very  doubtful.  But,  according  to  the  best  re- 
ceived interpretation  of  ancient  prophecies,  the  millen- 
nial state  of  the  church  will  commence  about  that 
time.^  We  may  rejoice  in  the  anticipation  of  such  a 
glorious  event :  but  the  eternal  state  of  most  of  us  will 
be  fixed  before  the  arrival  of  this  period.  It  concerns 
us,  one  and  all,  to  prepare  ourselves  for  whatever  may 
take  place  in  the  Divine  government,  while  we  shall 
be  upon  the  stage  of  life.  More  especially  it  concerns 
us  to  prepare  for  our  dissolution  by  death,  from  which 
no  age  is  exempt.  We  who  are  old  may  be  assured 
that  our  time  on  earth  is  short — that  we  must  soon  sro 
the  way  whence  none  return — that  the  places  which 
now  know  us  on  earth  will  know  us  no  more.  The 
greatest  kindness  we  can  extend  to  posterity,  the  great- 
est good  we  can  do  to  those  Avho  may  succeed  us  in 
our  respective  places,  is,  by  a  life  of  godliness  and  so- 
briety, to  give  our  dying  testimony  for  God  and  for  re- 
ligion. As  we  wish  that  posterity  may  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  our  labour,  and  reap  the  fields  we  have  cultivated, 
let  us  teach  them,   by  precept  and  example,  io  fear 

*  The  Pope  was  formally  invested  wilh  the  authority  of  Universal  Bishop 
by  the  Emperor  Phoca?,  A.  D.  606.  Adding  to  this  period,  the  1260  days 
mentioned  by  Daniel,  or,  as  is  intended  by  proplietick  days,  12G0  years, 
we  are  brought  to  the  year  1866. See  Faber* 


S6 

God,  to  regard  his  word,  his  day,  his  house,  his  xvor- 
ship,  his  injunctions  o^  justice,  benevolence  and  charity. 
Finally— let  it  be  the  care  of  all  to  act  their  parts 
well  on  the  stage  of  life,  and  to  approve  themselves 
faithful  unto  the  death.  May  God  of  his  mercy  grant, 
that  in  the  day  of  judgment  we  may  meet  together  at 
the  right  hand  of  Jesus,  and  may  be  admitted  into  the 
kingdom  of  glory. Amen. 


THE  venerable  Author  of  the  above  Sermon  still  lives.     For 

his  age,  he  possesses  an  unusual  degree  of  bodily  and  mental 

strength  ;  and,  until  the  present  time,  (the  fifty-eighth  year  of 

his  ministry,  and  the  eightieth  of  his  life)  he  has  been  enabled, 

with  little  assistance,  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  his  office. 

EnrroR. 
WorQester^  July,  1819. 


UMASS/AMHERST 


312066  0330  7761  5 


Sumner,  Joseph,  1739-1824. 

A  sermon,  delivered  at  Shrewsbury, 


